Talking to my brother Tim got me thinking about priorities. Sometimes it feels like certain things are expected at certain ages—and if you don’t follow the cosmic template, you’re basically shunned. And it’s funny because it’s 2009, almost 2010—so you would think some of the social mores have changed. But it doesn’t feel that way when something you do bucks the system. Didn’t go to college at the right place? Not married by the right age? Don’t have the right job? Aren’t having kids at the right age? Who decided all these "right" things anyway? Really, it’s nobody’s business what we do and I think once we feel more secure with whatever decisions we make, it feels less like an attack when people question them. This was the first time I’d ever heard anyone say college is less important than connections. But I guess it all just depends on what’s most important to you and being able to stand up for whatever it is that you think.
Q: What do you know now that you wish you knew at a younger age?
A: I realize now what my priorities in life are—regarding education specifically. In my industry (logistics), a college education is not as important as networking—it’s very important to know the right people. I think education for specifics is OK but it’s more important how well you get along with people and how well you do your job.
Q: What’s your worst/funniest date?
A: The worst one was recently, I had a blind date (double date with a friend and his girlfriend) about 2 months ago. A friend set me up under the auspices of the girl being “very attractive”… needless to say, the caveat emptor clause was in full effect. Fast forward to the end where my date had consumed a full meal with dessert at Salty’s (fancy restaurant in Seattle) and my buddy who set me up had already left! It was a $100 dinner and if my friend hadn’t been there, it would have been a 5 dollar parking fee because I wouldn’t have bothered staying.
Q: If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
A: Some of my stock picks in the early 90s—Nortel Networks and JDS Uniphase. They single-handedly almost wiped out my entire 401K.
Q: Who are/have been the most influential people in your life?
A: My father. He was a role model in the way he treated people and people treated him. He lived by the golden rule which is rare nowadays.
Q: What are you looking forward to?
A: Getting married, having kids. A fulfilling job. Good friends.
Q: What are you reading?
A: Filth by Irving Welsh, the Trainspotting guy. Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman. I read by referral for the most part—from peers, friends and from GoodReads.com.
Q: What do you think is your greatest accomplishment so far?
A: Owning and developing 2 rental properties plus my primary residence. That sounds pretentious but the sweat equity time I have spent and with the downturn in the economy, the fact that I was able to hold onto all of them, is something I am very proud of.
Q: If you won 50 million dollars, what would be the first thing you would do with it?
A: #1: Travel around the world with a black American express card, a pair of shorts, flip flops and a cell phone.
#2: Play the top 100 golf courses in the world through any means necessary—bribery, whatever it takes—since most of them are private and don’t let in just anyone.
Q: Best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Best advice was from a family friend a long time ago that I still look back on and use to this day because it’s very simple: be yourself, because there’s too many people in this world that try to pretend or act like something they’re not.
Q: Least exciting technical advancement of the last 50 years? Most exciting?
A: Least exciting—email and hybrid cars. I believe email is the biggest colossal waste of time for both business and personal use, which is funny because all I do all day is email. It is the most overblown phenomenon since Ford made the model T.
Most exciting—the Internet. It makes the world more accessible.
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